San Francisco Giants Left Hander Barry Zito
Taking the Same Approach to Pitching Win, Lose or Draw
Sep 3, 2009
In the six weeks since the All-Star Break, Zito maintains the same demeanor. The difference is getting results. And he's winning over the same San Francisco Giants' fans who booed him mercilessly the past two-plus seasons.
"I love the fan support," Zito said after helping the Giants sweep the Colorado Rockies in late August and tighten the wild card race. "I have been interpreting the fans differently lately and I know where they are coming from. It's fun to have them involved."
Appreciating a Baseball Winner
Seven quality starts in his last nine appearances, a 1.93 ERA in August, and a five-decision winning streak at AT&T Park has given Giants' fans an opportunity to reevaluate their once negative stance against him.
In his final start of August he allowed one run on eight hits, striking out seven and walking once. When he was removed from the contest, the sellout crowd rose as one and gave Zito a lengthy applause that required his first curtain call in San Francisco.
"I had to grab Barry to go out there with them chanting like that," Giants' manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's good to see. He's done a terrific job all year. He's had a tough time getting runs, but he's pitched great."
Zito understands the nuances of baseball as well as anyone, and appreciates fans' fickleness. Zito wants to win as much as the fans want him to win. That's why he takes of himself and why he has never spent on the disabled list.
If nothing else, Zito takes the ball every time it's his turn. In 27 starts this season, he's allowed five runs or more on four occasions. Despite a losing record, he's reestablishing himself as a top-flight pitcher.
His next win will give him at least 10 for the ninth consecutive season, a streak that's hard to match these days. It also shows Zito has consistently performed, good results or bad. His current ERA of 3.94 is within 0.11 of his career ERA.
"He's really bounced back this year," Giants' outfielder Nate Schierholtz said. "It seems like he's got it all together. In a must-win game he came out and did his job, like he's been doing it all season."
Baseball Fate and Fortune
Zito produced a 3.35 ERA in May, but lost four starts in a row. In June he produces a 5.81 ERA, his highest for any month this year, and he wins three of four decisions.
Zito was prime time in August. He pitched well enough to win all six of his starts. He left after two starts in which he threw six scoreless innings and received a no-decision.
It doesn't matter. He narrows his perspective of baseball into fundamental elements. If he takes care of his preparations, things usually work out.
"I'm just focusing more on being aggressive," he said. "Throwing my best stuff and then see what happens."
The fan support, he theorizes, is not the end result of his effectiveness but the possible cause of it.
"When the fans are fired up, we're fired up," Zito said. "Maybe that's why we play so well at home."
View from the Pitcher's Mound
Zito is currently in his 10th season in the majors, having been drafted in the first round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft after taking Southern California to the Super Regional at Stanford.
The pitching match-up between Zito and Stanford's Jason Young, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies and briefly reached the major leagues, is considered one of the classic college contests.
Zito took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, allowed just two hits overall, and lost the game, 1-0.
Eric Bruntlett, now with the Philadelphia Phillies, broke up the no-hitter with a double that was lost in the lights st Sunken Diamond. One out later, another hit and Bruntlett scored the only run of the game.
Future major leaguers Jason Lane and Eric Munson were also in the lineup for the Trojans while John Gall and Joe Borchard played for the Cardinal.
Zito's thoughts that day?
"That was probably one of the most competitive games I've pitched this year," he said. "A 0-0 game is the toughest to pitch. Not a lot of pitchers can win with one run, but (Jason) Young is a guy that can hold us down; he's a good pitcher."
Ten years after and some things never change.
